S.A. woman redefines American 'DREAM' in historic speech to DNC

Updated 1:15 am, Thursday, September 6, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Benita Veliz's American story is unlike most shared on the national political stage.

Her journey to the podium at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday began in Mexico, where she was born, and in San Antonio, where she was brought by her parents at age 8.

Veliz's address, the first by an undocumented immigrant at a national political convention and the second history-making speech by a San Antonian, underscored the stark differences between President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney on immigration.

The Obama administration's recent and abrupt policy shift on deporting undocumented immigrants who were brought here illegally as children was praised by Veliz, a vocal advocate for the DREAM Act and a champion for undocumented students.

“I feel just as American as any of my friends or neighbors,” said Veliz, 27. “But I've had to live almost my entire life knowing I could be deported just because of the way I came here.”